Ever wondered what secrets are held within these walls? We are standing before the Convento das Trinas do Rato Plaque. This marks a place with a history stretching back centuries.
This convent started with humble beginnings. Manuel Gomes Elvas founded it in 1633. His vision was a refuge for forty noble women. You can see the testament to this on a plaque dating to 1637. It sits above the building’s Mannerist portal.
The Convento das Trinas do Rato sat in a quiet area. It was near land owned by the Congregation of Saint Philip Neri. Manuel Correia de Lacerda and Luís Gomes de Sá e Meneses became key supporters. Luís was nicknamed “O Rato” giving the convent and the Largo its name.
D. Tomás de Almeida also contributed much to the Convento das Trinas do Rato. He was the first Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon. He oversaw the church and convent’s decoration. D. Tomás also created the parish of Santa Isabel.
The church’s main chapel stands out. It is a Mannerist design with detailed stonework. Paintings depict Christ’s Passion.
Earthquakes caused damage to the Convento. The building was quickly repaired. Architect Luiz Caetano Pedro de Ávila rebuilt it in 1885. More changes occurred in 1937-1938. The front courtyard disappeared. It had been a public space with businesses.
The Convento das Trinas do Rato has seen various uses over time. It was once a home for noble women. Later it became a place of public service. Today it stands as a reminder of Lisbon’s rich past. The Convento has evolved but its story remains etched in stone and memory.